Core Notes

Dear TCS Families,

Thank you for helping us begin the 2025–2026 school year on such a positive note. The first two weeks have gone smoothly, and we are grateful for your partnership as we work together for student success.

I especially want to thank you for your patience as we launched our new transportation app, Stopfinder. This tool will help improve communication for bus riders, and I encourage families to download it if your child rides a TCS bus.

I also want to recognize our Facilities Department and many other staff who worked tirelessly over the summer to prepare our school buildings so they were ready to welcome students back.

We are excited about the year ahead and all that our students will accomplish. Thank you for your continued support, and for choosing Tuscaloosa City Schools.

Mike Daria

TCS Superintendent

At the August 19 Board of Education meeting, two Tuscaloosa City Schools students were honored for representing the district in The Ronald Reagan Great All-American Leadership Program, held July 12–15 at Pepperdine University in California.

Benjamin Riches, an 11th grader at Central High School, and Jenesis Preyer, a 12th grader at Paul W. Bryant High School, participated in the program, which featured leadership training, hands-on simulations at the Reagan Presidential Library, and presentations from nationally recognized speakers, including a Medal of Honor recipient.

“Our school system prides itself on offering students experiences that broaden their horizons and prepare them to be leaders in their communities,” said TCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria. “Benjamin and Jenesis are wonderful examples of how opportunities like this can make a lasting impact.”

Thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Rhonda Gonzalez and the University of West Alabama College of Nursing, every Tuscaloosa City School will now be equipped with a life-saving “Stop the Bleed” kit.

Three health science educators from the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy—Katelyn Taylor, Heather Wood and Mary T. Long—recently attended Stop the Bleed training at UWA, made possible through a grant secured by Dr. Gonzalez. The session focused on emergency response techniques for severe bleeding, and each participant received a kit and an extra tourniquet to bring back to their school.

But the generosity didn’t end there. When Dr. Gonzalez learned TCS has 21 schools, she took immediate action. After the session, she gifted all 21 kits—valued at $3,360—to ensure every TCS campus is equipped in case of an emergency.

This donation represents the final supplies available through her grant and will significantly improve emergency preparedness across the district. TCS is deeply grateful for this support and the community partnership that made it possible.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools is now using the Stopfinder app to share important updates about school bus transportation. Thank you to our families for your patience as we transitioned to this new system—we are excited about the benefits it brings to bus riders and their parents.

With Stopfinder, families can see their child’s bus assignment, including bus number, bus stop location, and pickup times. The app also allows parents to track buses in real time and receive alerts if a bus is delayed or if a bus number changes. You can even share access with a caregiver and message the TCS Transportation Department directly within the app.

It is vital that all families who use TCS bus transportation download Stopfinder and ensure their child’s information is linked in the app. As it is currently, TCS is not sending robocalls with bus updates—the app is currently the only way to receive timely information about your child’s bus route.

If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to download Stopfinder today and stay connected to your child’s transportation updates. If you have issues getting access to Stopfinder, or questions about your child's bus, please call the TCS Transportation department at 205-247-2400.

Join us at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy on Wednesday, August 28, at 5:30 p.m. for the MegaWow Family & Community Event!

Families will enjoy a shared meal and an exciting evening of hands-on activities that showcase TCTA’s career pathways. This is an ideal opportunity for students—including middle schoolers—to explore class options at TCTA and discover areas of interest. Meet industry professionals, explore real-world learning opportunities, and see how TCTA equips students with the skills they need for future success.

We look forward to welcoming you to this engaging community event!

We’re excited to announce that Reading Allies volunteer registration is now open for the upcoming semester! Join us in making a lasting impact on young readers by dedicating just 30 minutes each week to help students build confidence and improve their reading skills. Volunteering will begin the week of September 8th and conclude the week of November 17th.

Whether you're a returning volunteer or new to the program, your support can make all the difference in a child’s life!

Sign up today and be a part of something meaningful! https://readingallies.org/volunteer

The City of Tuscaloosa presented Tuscaloosa City Schools with a donation of school supplies collected through the city’s overtime parking ticket drive at its Aug. 5 meeting.

As part of the program, residents could choose to donate school supplies instead of paying overtime parking fines. The effort resulted in 1,087 supplies gathered for TCS students.

“We are so grateful to the City of Tuscaloosa and to our community for this generous donation,” said TCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria. “These supplies will directly benefit our students and help ensure they have the tools they need for a successful school year.”

The Tuscaloosa City Schools’ new state-required policy limiting student access to wireless devices is now in effect. During the school day, students may not use or access:

• Cell phones

• Earbuds or headphones

• Smartwatches

• Personal laptops or iPads (TCS-issued Chromebooks are okay.)

• Mobile gaming systems (like Nintendo Switch)

These devices must be turned off and stored away. Middle and high school students may carry phones, earbuds or smartwatches in locked Yondr pouches, but devices cannot be accessed until the school day ends.

Families who need to reach their child should call the school’s main office. For full details, visit the Wireless Device Policy on the TCS website.

All TCS school buses are now fully air-conditioned! We are excited that our students and bus drivers can ride to and from school in comfort, no matter the weather.

Watch this video to learn more about this exciting upgrade to our transportation fleet.

Beginning with the Class of 2026, all Tuscaloosa City Schools students pursuing the General Education pathway to the Alabama High School Diploma must earn a College, Career, and Readiness Indicators (CCRI) to graduate. This state requirement ensures that every student is prepared for success after high school—whether in college, the workforce, or the military.

Students can meet CCRI requirements in several ways, including:

• Earning a benchmark score in any subject area on the ACT® college entrance exam.

• Earning a qualifying score of three or higher on an Advanced Placement® exam.

• Earning a qualifying score of four or higher on an International Baccalaureate® exam.

• Earning college credit while in high school.

• Earning a silver or gold level on the ACT® WorkKeys® Exam.

• Completing an in-school youth apprenticeship program.

• Earning a career technical industry credential listed on the compendium of valuable credentials of the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways.

• Being accepted into the military before graduation.

• Attaining Career and Technical Education (CTE) completer status

TCS is committed to supporting every student in reaching this important milestone. Families are encouraged to talk with their school counselor and career coach to learn more about CCRI options and track their child’s progress toward graduation.

For more information, visit https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/for-families/high-school-families

It’s game time! All three Tuscaloosa City Schools high schools will kick off their first football games of the season on Friday, August 22, and will be played at home.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance at GoFan.co. Join us in supporting our student-athletes and school communities as we begin another exciting season of Friday night football!

Important reminder: We’re are using Parentsquare this year, our new, unified communication platform for Tuscaloosa City Schools. That means you are now receiving district, school, and classroom updates *all in one place* — whether it’s event reminders, board agendas, schedule changes, forms, or classroom news.

**What you can do with ParentSquare:**

* Choose how and when you receive messages

* Reply directly to teachers and staff

* View calendars and sign-ups

* Complete permission slips and forms

* Communicate in your preferred language

And to make things easier for families, you'll now receive **just one personalized daily digest**—typically in the evening—that includes all communications from the school system that day. This means fewer interruptions and a clearer, more convenient way to stay in the know.

A quick reminder: A "Daily Digest" is simply a compilation of all district communications you received that day! While all parents and staff receive weekly **board meeting agendas** and other district information, they are simply notices. There is **no expectation to attend** these meetings unless you wish to.

**Get started today**:

While the app is not required to receive the communications, it is recommended! Download the free ParentSquare app on iOS or Android, or log in at www.parentsquare.com.

If you need to change your email or phone number listed in Parentsquare, please call your child's school and ask them to change the information in Powerschool. Once it is changed in Powerschool, it automatically update in Parentsquare within 24 hours.

To learn more about Parentsquare, watch this quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOaxk_u0mqA

Tuscaloosa City Schools is committed to identifying and supporting all children with special needs through Child Find. This ongoing program helps locate, evaluate, and provide services for children, ages birth through 21, who may require special education or related services.

If you know a child who may need extra support—whether not yet in school, attending private school, or already enrolled in TCS—please contact the TCS Special Education Department. Early identification is the first step in helping every child reach their full potential. Child Find is a program designed by the State Department of Education and the Department of Rehabilitation Services to help those who are in need of special education services.

Parents of disabled children or anyone knowledgeable of disabled children who may need special education services should contact the Child Find Coordinator in the special Education Department at 205-345-0513 or call 1-800-392-8020 for ages 3 through 21 or 1-800-543-3098 from birth until 2 years of age. For more information you may also contact the Alabama Relay Service at 1-800-548-2547.

BSN Sports has set up online "swag stores" for our schools where any student, faculty or parent can buy school branded gear. This was a desire that was expressed by students during the Superintendent's student advisory meetings at the high schools last school year.

The "swag" on these sites include a variety of price points, brands, and are in men's, women's and children's sizes, plus they have cups and other items as well. On the main page, they also have gear per sport.

There is also branded gear for the elementary and middle schools, too! To see the middle school and elementary options, on the desktop website, once you have clicked on the type of item to browse, you can go to the sidebar where it says "campus" and then select feeder school, where the items will pop up with other school names. Select the school that you want.

Each feeder zone will receive 10% back of all purchases in the form of a store credit/rebate that can be used for future branded purchases by the school(s). So, support your school and show school pride!

Northridge feeder zone store: NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Central feeder zone store: CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Bryant feeder zone store: PAUL W BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL STAMPEDE - COTTONDALE, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

It is important to remember that if you or your child see or hear something concerning, please report it to your school's principal. It can be the first step to saving a situation from becoming dangerous. Again, "See Something, Say Something!"